The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING CARLI LLOYD
______
HON. ANDY KIM
of new jersey
in the house of representatives
Friday, October 15, 2021
Mr. KIM of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Carli Lloyd on her retirement from a sixteen-year international career in professional soccer as a member of the United States Women's National Team.
Carli grew up in Delran, New Jersey, and while she participated in numerous sports, she always gravitated towards soccer. She began playing at 5 years old and quickly excelled as a youth player. Later she even recalled some of her fondest memories were when she played on the Medford Strikers. From the moment she returned home from school, Carli could be found on any patch of grass big enough to kick a ball. Whether she was playing against men in pickup games or with younger siblings in her family's upstairs hallway, Carli's competitive nature and ambition to be the best player on the field was always on display.
After playing on Rutgers University's team, Carli's removal from the Under 21 Women's National Soccer Team forced her to re-examine her approach to achieving her ultimate dream of being on the Women's National Team. As we all know, for Carli simply being on the team wasn't enough. She has gone on to compete in 312 international games, the second highest tally in U.S. soccer history. She played in 25 World Cup matches and 22 Olympic matches. She is the highest scoring midfielder in U.S. history and just a few months ago scored after playing for just 23 seconds, the second fastest goal scorer at the start of a match in Women's National Team History. A team general manager described Carli as, ``the embodiment of the DNA of a U.S. Women's National Team player.''
For those of us watching in stadiums or on television, we only see a fraction of what is truly required to compete at the highest level--the hard work, perseverance, self-taught-confidence that each player must have. While Carli leaves behind a legendary record, truly a legacy, her adherence to self-improvement and love for the sport is perhaps what she will forever be remembered.
Madam Speaker, Carli is an inspiration to all of us in New Jersey, particularly our daughters, and represents the best of us. Her integrity, humility and dedication to her teammates inspires us to become the best version of ourselves, and I wish her the best of luck in the next chapter of her life.
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 181
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